Take-up reel for knitting machines and method of operation



Dec. 25, 195] F W R HL G TAL 2,580,186

G MACHINES TAKE-U15 R E: R K TTIN AND THOD 0F OPERATION 1 INVENTOR Fredefiek Wluehl/p c6 BY H f rich/Haak F. W. RUEHLING ETAL TAKE-UP REEL FOR KNITTING MACHINES AND METHOD OF OPERATION Dec. 25, 195] 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Feb. 14, 1948 INVENTorg Fred/eric# WKuehl/L BY Her ri Patented Dec. 25, r71951 v feUNVrED s'rA'rges PATENT office TAKE-UPYREEL'FOR KNIT'II-NG:MACH1NES A*AND METHOD F OPERATION FrederickV A'957.7'Ruel1ling, Philadelphia, and *Herbertv Erich 'HaehnL West v Reading, Pa., assignors to TextileMachine'Works, Wyomissing, Pa.,

a corporationoflennsylvania Applicationrebruary 14, 1948,;seria1 Nadeel;

1 'Il Thisinventon relates to fabric draw-offTeel units lfor Afull-fashioned yand other ,ilat knitting machines-and-more particularly to draw-off reel unitspermtting the quick removal of fabric" from theunit with a minimum of pull on thelfa'bric and toamethod'of operating aknitting machine equipped'with such'arreel unit. y

is Well known, many of the presentifullfashionedknitting machines are used principally forknitting'flat blanks including the leg and foot portions, for full-fashioned hosiery. These machines are providedv with .fabric draw-ofi reel units, one foreach of the several',knitting sec-o tions of the machine and which are connected to the .folded weltportion of the blanks iby means of .straps having. their freeends connected to ,welt Wireswhich ,extend in normal manner through the 'turned welts. As the fabric'is` knitted after the welthas been turned, saidstraps are 'wound on the reel units 'for their full lengths 'and then considerableportions loi the stockingblanksare wound on the reel units. When the blanks have been completed and with the last courses of each blank on vthe needles, the machine is stopped and the tensonon the reel shaft is released. The welt wires areremoved from the welts and theblanks pressed-ofi the needles in the usual manner, afterwhich the blanks are strippedvoff the reel units. Invthe majority of instances, the

vreel unit structure'having a central section long enough to accommodate substantially theentire Wdthof Vthe blank Vand entirely free to rotate relatively to the reel-shaft while the blank is being unwound or removed from the `reel unit.

A further object of the `invention is to provide means individual to each of the several reel units of Aa v'full-fashioned knitting machine which permits the locking of the free center portion-of Vany reelunit to its mountingshaft. a y' Stillanother object is to provide'af-means-ensuring removal `of Vthe vblanks from the reel lunits witha minimum of pull on the blanksv while permitting theunits 'to Zbe used in rigid-condition throughout when l desired.

:zo Claims. (Class-149') '.S'With these rand otherrobjects in view, which will become apparent from Athe following detailed-description ofthe form of the invention' shown inthe accompanying drawings, Vthe invention'reside's in the novel method, elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship as .hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In thedrawings: Y

Figure 1 is ,a planjview o'f a'fragment of a multisection full-fashioned knitting machine including Aonly agsingleknitting section; Fig. 2 is a sectionalelevation taken substantially'onthejline Y2---2 of Fig. A1, looking in the direction of thearrows, and in part broken Laway to -showsa feature behind the line of section. `l5ig.`3 is a plan View on an enlarged scale, of the main reel unit shown .in Figs. 1 and 2;

`Fig. Al is a lsectional elevation .taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of thearrows, `and enlarged relative teFigjS, the Acentral portion of the unit being broken` out;

'Fig. 5 is a fragmentary viewof the right hand end of ,Fig 3V drawn to thesame scale as Fig. 4, partsjbeing `broken ,away and parts .being shown in-section for purposes of illustration;

Fig. Z6` is a sectionalview taken substantially on v:the line ,l5-6 of\Fig.5, looking kinthe directionfof'the arrows;l Y

Fig?? isa viewg'sir'nilar toFg. 5 except that certain @parts'areA shown in different positions; and

vFig.'8 is aY section takensubstantially on the line Ati-,B of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows. Y u

fngthe drawings and description, only the means necessary to a complete understanding of the invention are `specifically set forth; furtherinformation as to the construction and operationof otherl related, usual and well-known knitting machine'elementa mechanisms, etc., may be found-in one or more of the following publications:

1. Pamphlet entitled-Full-Fashioned Knitting 'Machinespublished and copyrighted by the 'Textile MachineY Works, Reading, Pennsyl-` vania-'in '1920.

A42. Four catalogs entitled- The Reading Full- Eashioned Knitting Machine Parts Catalogpublished and copyrighted by the Textile vMachine Works, `in 1929, 1935, 1940 and 1947, respectively.

duction Full Fashioned Knitting Machinewhich, forming a supplement to the above noted 1940 parts catalog of the Textile Machine Works, is a publication of the Textile Machine Works, copyrighted by the latter in 1940.

4. Pamphlet entitled-Knitting Machine Lectures-published by the Wyomissing- Polytechnic Institute, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania,in 1935.

It will be understood that the great majority of full-fashioned stockings now made have two` ply or turned welts, the blanks for such stockings having their rst courses engaged by the hooks of welt bars forming a part of the well known automatic welt turning mechanism. After Y a predetermined amount of fabric has been knitted under tension applied to the welt bar, welt rods or wires are placed on the blanks and the fabrics folded around the welt wires. As the fabrics are folded around the welt wires, drawoff tension is applied to the welt wires by means of straps connected to fabric reels. At completion of the welt fabric the first and last courses of the welts are interknitted with subsequent courses to thereby close the welts. The major portions of the blanks are then knitted, the welt wires and parts of the blanks being wound up together on reels. At completion of the blanks and with the last course of loops of said blanks either remaining on the needles, or pressed therefrom as shown in the drawings, the tension is released from the reels and the welt'wires removed from the straps and fabrics. After removing the welt wires the blanks are removedfrom the reels, this operation being customarily done by pulling upon the pressed-olf end to unwrap the blanks from their respective reels.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the invention is shown applied to one section of a multi-section knitting machine having a welt turner of the type shown and described in the patent to Bitzer, No. 2,413,601, December 31, 1946, and shown in the hereinbefore referred to Reading parts catalog of 1947. The knitting section shown comprises loop forming means including a needle bar I having a row of needles I I therein, sinkers I2, dividers I3 and a combined hook-up and welt turner means comprising a welt bar I having welt hooks I6 thereon. Bar I5 is slidably mounted on rails or bridge members I1 to move toward and away from the needle row and, when Vthe loops of the first course of a blank are to be hooked up, the bar I5 is pushed along rails I1 until the hooks I 6 extend between the needles. Bar I5 is shown in Fig. l. in its rest or inactive position, the one farthest fromthe needles. For pushing the bar to the position for hooking up loops, the welt turner means is shown as having pins 20 also slidable on, as well as guided on, the rails I1 and normally in contact with resilient projections on the forward edge of bar I5. Linkages connect pins 20 with an oscillatable shaft 2I whereby pins 20 are pushed toward and withdrawn from the needle row at the desired times. After yarn for the rst course of a stocking blank 22 has been laid by yarn carriers (not shown) and formedinto loops around the needles by the sinkers I2 and dividers I3, the loops are engaged by the welt hooks I5 when the pins 20 are withdrawn from the needle rows. Alternate loops of the first course are cast off the needles by known means and in a known way, and knitting of the welt of the blank is proceeded with, draw-off tension being supplied to the loops through the welt bar I 5 by an auxiliary draw-off shaft .23.

-The welt bar I5 is connected to the shaft by a strap 25, one end of which is attached to the welt 4 bar and the other end of which is attached to a reel 26 fixed to the shaft 23.

After a certain amount of welt fabric has been knitted, draw-off tension from a main draw-off 6 means is substituted for that supplied by shaft` 23. Preliminary to substituting the main drawoff shaft for the auxiliary draw-olf shaft 23, pins 20 are pushed part way toward the needle row vI I. As a further preliminary to so substituting 10 the draw-0H action of the main draw-off means Vfor that of shaft 23, draw-off hooks 21, one of which is attached to each draw-off strap 30 of the main draw-off means, are moved, while under tension, toward the needle row by means of belts 3I which are operated by a shaft 32, means (not shown) latching the shaft 32 to hold the hooks stationary for purposes hereinafter set forth.

. When a suflicient length of welt fabric is knitted, a welt wire 33 is placed on the fabric and inserted in slots in the facing sides of the rails I1 in position to be engaged by the hooks 21 on the straps 30. At a predetermined point in the formation of the welt, pins 20 move the welt bar I5 toward the needle row to a position intermediate the inactive position of the bar and the needle row and the bar is latched in said intermediate position. As the pins 20 move toward the needle row to push the bar I5 to said intermediate position, the belts 3l are unlatched and Y moved bv means (not shown) to release the draw-off hooks 21 which then are drawn forward and catch the welt wire, causing it to fold the ufabric below the welt bar and to draw the loops of the first course forward on hooks I6 against elements 35 nn the hooks to hold the loops in a position which facilitates returningr them to the needles. After a further portion of welt fabric has heen knitted. pins 20 are pushed toward the needles tn a, position in which the welt is closed by transferring the loans of the first course back to the needies and interknitting the first and last courses of the welt.

In the form of the invention shown in the drawings the straps 30 are attached to a reel unit 36, one of which is provided for each knitting section. carried on a shaft 34 and forming part of the main draw-off means of the machine. The reel unit. shown in detail in Figs. 3 to 8 of the drawings, includes three cylindrical reel sections, two end sections 31 and 38 respectively and a centra-1 section 39 between sections 31 and 38 and in substantially abutting relationship thereto to define ioints therebetween. Each of the end sections 31 and 38 comprises a shell-like member II carried on an outer bearing member 42 and an inner bearing member 43 xed to shaft 34 by means of set screws 45, as shown in Fig. 4. The shell-like members III are held in fixed relation to the bearing members 42 and 43 by pins 43,

shown in Fig. 5. The center reel section 39 comprises a shell-like member 41 extended to overlie the joints between the sections and carried at each end on .bearings 50 rotatably mounted on G5 the shaft 34. The member 41 is held in fixed relation to its bearings 50 by means of pins 5I, one of which is shown in Fig. 5. TheV center section 39 has a continuous and uninterrupted outer cylindrical surface so that there is nothing to impede the blanks from being pulled off the section 39, this ordinarily being done in the direction in which the blanks are wound thereon in knitting. Each end section 31 and 38` has a draw-off strap 30 attached thereto by the Yusual means which comprises a pair of crossed slots 44 and 44A, re-

spectively, and a T-shaped anchor member 40;

the outer ends of ,the straps having hooks 21 fixed thereto for use in connecting the. straps to the welt wire 33 as herei'nbefore set forth.

As shown in Fig. 1, the stocking blank is wound entirely on the center section 39 of the reel unit 36 although the widest part of the blank, which is the welt portion, is considerably wider, when knitted, than the center section 39, so that the edges of the blank form right and left hand helices. Fig. 1 also shows the blank pressed-off the needles and the reel shaft positioned with the welt wire 33 at the top of the reel unit 36. The welt wire is removed from the hooks 21 and the welt portion of the blank 22. The blank 22 is then removed from the section 39 with the section 39 rotating to permit the free unwinding of the blank.

In the knitting of stocking blanks such as 22, forone reason or another, an occasional blank is accidently pressed from the needles before the blank is completed. In this case, the needle bar of the pressed-off knitting section is laid out of operation while the remainder of the blanks are completed. The pressed-oil blank is placed on a topping bar and prior to the Start of the next or a subsequent set of blanks is topped back on the needles from which it was originally pressed. When knitting has reached the point at which the press-01T occurred, the needle bar is returned to knitting position and the originally pressedoif blank completed with the remainder of the blanks of the new set. In order to apply draw-off tension to the pressed-off blank after it is topped onto the needles, the blank is usually tied to the reel which causes the blank to be wrapped around the reel as it rotates in the draw-olf direction. With the present reel structure, however, the center section would remain stationary and no tension applied to the blank attached thereto.

Under these circumstances, it is essential that the center reel section 39 rotate with the end sections 31 and 38 of the reel, and the shaft 34. For this purpose, means is shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, for locking the center section 39 to the end section 38 of the reel unit 36. The lock means shown comprises a pin 56 slidable in the bearing members 42 and 43 for the section 38 and engageable in one of a series of apertures 51 in the bearing member 59, as shown in Fig. 8, for the center section 39, adjacent to the bearing member 43 for the section 38. To lock the center section 39 to the end section 38 and therefore the shaft 34, the pin 56 is pressed into one of the apertures 51.

When the set of blanks, including the originally pressed-01T blank, is completed and removed from the machine, it is desirable that the center section 39 be released from the end section 38 by removing pin 56 from the aperture 51 to permit the center section 39 to again freely rotate on the shaft 34. For this purpose av second pin 60 is provided also slidable in the bearing member 42 of the section 38. The pin 60 is connected to the pin 56 by a lever 6|, one end ofwhich is engaged in a slot 62 in the pin 56 and the other end of which is engaged inV a slot 65 in the pin 60. The lever 6I is pivoted on a shouldered screw 66 carried in an aperture 61 in the bearing member 42 of the end section 38 of the reel unit 36. In order to remove the pin 56 from the aperture 51 the pin 60 is .pressed to the left from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 5 thereby turning the lever 6| in a counterclockwise direction to move the pin 56 to the right and out of the aperture 51'l The pins 56 and 60 are held in either the position of Fig. 5 or Fig. '1 by means of a spring Washer 10 positioned between the head of screw 66 and the lever 6 l As previously stated, the machine is stopped at 34 so that they can be slipped out of the hooksand welts with a maximum of convenience. Before or after the next set of blanks have been hooked up, the blanks are removed from the sections 39 of reel unit 36, the sections freely rotating to facilitate such removal.

It will clearly appear from the foregoing that the objects primarily stated may be satisfied with the illustrated form of the invention; and thatl there is provided a simple and eicient means by which blanks, such as stockings, after completion of knitting upon a full-fashioned knitting machine, may be readily removed from the fabric take-up reel with the minimum chance of damage through strain incident to the pulling or unwinding of such finished blanks from the reels. Moreover, the invention provides, and as is hereinbefore described in detail in one form,for the fixed coupling of the normally rotatable center section of the reel to its mounting shaft, thus permitting the use of this center section in any manner when required to be positively driven.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described, by which the above described results are obtained, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the inventions herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. A cylindrical fabric draw-ofi reel unit for a flat knitting machine comprising a shaft, twov end sections fixed to said shaft and having draw-off straps connected thereto, and a central section on said shaft and having bearing means between itself and the shaft adapting the central section for free rotation relative to the shaft, said cen-y outer sections to selectively iix said central section to move with said outer section.

3. A cylindrical fabric draw-off reel unit of substantially uniform diameter for a flat knitting machine and having a shaft,` two endvsections fixed to said shaft, draw-01T straps connected tov said end sections, and acentral section between said end sections mounted on said shaft for free rotation relative to the shaft, and a latch mounted on one of said end sections and including a part fixedly engaging said central section when` the latch is in use.

4. A cylindrical fabric draw-off reel unit of substantially uniform diameter for a flat knitting machine and having a shaft, two end sections xed to said shaft, draw-ofi straps-connected to. said end sections, and a central section on said assogisez 7 shaft between# 'said end `sections mounted on said shaft' forfree rotation relative to the shaft, and means mounted on onev of said end sections movable to engage with said center section to lock the latter to said end sections.

' 5. Av cylindrical' fabric draw-off reel unit of substantially uniform diameter for a at knitting' machine and having a shaft, two end sections rfixed to said shaft and having draw-off straps #connected thereto, a central section on said shaft between said sections and having bearing means betweenVv itself and said shaft adapting the central' section for free rotation relative to the shaft, said central' section having anv uninterrupted smooth cylindricaly surface, and means for locking said` center and end sections together.

6; A cylindrical fabric draw-off reel unit of substantially uniform diameter fora flat knitting machine and having a shaft', two vend sections fixed to said shaft and having draw-off strapsconnected thereto, a central section on said shaft between said end sections for free rotation relative tothe shaft, said central section having an uninterrupted smooth cylindrical surface, and a latch mounted on one of said end sections and including a part xedly engaging said central section when the latch is in use.

7. A cylindrical fabric draw-off reel unit for a flat knittingY machine and having a shaft, two end sections each having two transverse members xed to said shaft, both of the transverse members of one of the end sections being aperture'd inaline parallel to said shaft, the end secand a latch mounted on one of said end sections Y and comprising a pin mounted parallel to the shaft in the apertures in the transverse members of saidv one of saidY end sections and having latching engagement in use in an aperture in said one of the transverse members of the central section.

8. Fabric draw-off means for a flat knitting machine comprising, a draw-olf shaft, a drawo reel unit carried thereon including end sections' fixed to said shaft, a center section carried on said shaft and normally free to revolve relative to the shaft and said end sections, and means for. latching the. center section in xed relation to the end sections of said reel unit.

9. A fabric draw-off reel unit for a flat knitting machine comprising a shaft, a pair of end sections fixedl to said: shaft, means for connecting draw-off straps to said end` sections, and a center section rotatable relative to said shaft between said end'. sections and having an uninterrupted surface.v

10.' A fabric draw-off reel unit for a fiat knittingA machine. comprising a shaft, a pair of endV sections fixed to saidV shaft, means for connecting draw-off straps to said end sections, a center section mounted on said shaft between said. end sections and movable relative thereto and having an uninterrupted surface, and a latch adapted t0 connect the center section to an end section when desiredl 11. A fabric draw-off reel unit for a-y flat knittingmachine; comprising a shaft, a pair of end sections fixedv to said shaft and having means facilitating theconnection ofdraw-oif-straps thereto,

aV centerI section supported on and 'rotatable relative to said shaft, andv latch meansaadapted to connect the center section to. an end. section 'when desired andrcon'structed and arranged so that a portion projects from the outline of the unit when the center section is free and so that another portion projects when the center section Vis latched. l

12. A fabric draw-off reel unit lfor a fiat knitting machine comprising a shaft, a pair of` end sections fixed to said shaft and having means facilitating the connection ofV draw-Off straps thereto, a center section rotatably mountedL on said shaft, and a latch means adapted to con'- nect said center section with an end section and biased tov stand either in position to connect the center to the end section or in position to free the two.

13. A fabric draw-off reel unit for a flat knitting machine comprising a shaft, a pair of end sections fixed to said shaft and having means facilitating the connection of draw-olf straps thereto, a center section supported on and rotatable relative to said shaft, and means adapted to furnish a driving connection in the draw-off direction between the center section and an end section.

14. A fabric draw-off reel unit for a fiat knitting' machine comprising a shaft, aV pair of end sections fixed to said shaft' andV having means facilitating the connection of draw-off straps thereto, a center section supported' on and rotatable Yrelative to said shaft', andl a latch means adapted to connect said center section with an end section when desired and including a spring biasing the latch means to remain' stationary either when in position to connect the center with the end section or when in position to freel the two.

l5. A fabric draw-oli reel unit for a fiat knitting machine comprising Va shaft, a pair of end 'sections fixed to saidl shaft and having means facilitating the connection of draw-off straps thereto, a center section rotatabli7 mounted on said shaft, andv latchmeans adapted toy connect said center section with an end section and' including a pair of pins substantially parallel to the shaft, one of which provides the latching` action, and a spring releasably holding said pins to eitherV latch the center section or free it'.

16. A cylindrical fabric4 draw-off reel unit for" a iiatknitting machine comprising a shaft, two end sections xed to said shaft and having' drawoi straps connected thereto and a central section on said shaft and rotatable relative thereto, said end sections abutting said central section to substantially prevent end play thereof.

17. A method' of operating a flat. knitting machine having a draw-off reel including a shaft', end sections fixed' to said shaft and a central section rotatable on said shaft comprising the steps 0f drawing oi fabric during knitting and winding the fabric on said central section by tension applied to a welt wire engaged with theAfabric, removing saidwire from the fabric,l and revolving said central section. by tension applied to an end of the fabrick to release the fabric from th central section and thereby remove it from the machine.

18. A fabric draw-olf reel for a flat knitting machine comprising a shaft, end sections xed t0 the shaft, means on said end sections for the attachment of draw-off' straps thereto, and a central fabric reel section between said end sections and'in substantially abutting relatior'ishipv thereto to denne joints therebetween, said cenacadien chine having fabric draw-off means including .a 5

shaft, end sections xed to the shaft for rotation thereof and to which are attached draw-olf Y straps releas-ably secured to a Welt wire engaged with the fabric being knitted, and a central fabric reel section rotatable relatively to said shaft' l0 comprising the steps of drawing off fabric dur.- ing knitting and winding the fabric on said een; tral reel section by rotating said shaft, and, after@ knitting is completed, removing the welt wirel from the fabric and revolving said central section* l5 by applying tension to the fabric to unwind the;

fabric from the central section and thereby re-y move it from the machine. 20. Fabric draw-off means for a ilat knitting machine comprising a, draw-off shaft, a draw' 20 4131501 off reel carried thereon and including end sections xed to said shaft, a central reel section carried on said shaft and normally free to revolve on the shaft, and means mounted on one of said sections and free of direct connection to the fabric for securing the central section in fixed relationship to an end section of the reel for r0- tation therewith.

FREDERICK W. RUEHLING.

HERBERT ERICH HAEHNEL.

REFERENCES CITED 5 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date `2,014,114 Mueller Sept. 10, 1935 2,366,462 Sirmay Jan. 2, 1945 Bitzer Dec. 31, 1946 

